The Competitive Enterprise Institute believes the proper role for government is to provide consumers with accurate, unbiased guidance that informs consumer choice. But, whether it is the substances we prefer, how we entertain ourselves, what dietary habits we maintain, or how we pursue personal health, consumers ought to have the right to make decisions for themselves.
Consumer Freedom Issue Areas
Featured Posts
News Release
Consumer sentiment rebounds in first reading for June: CEI analysis
University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment report showed a rebound in its first reading for June, likely due to slower-growing inflation and a calmer-than-expected month…
Blog
The SCRUB Act: Washing away Washington’s regulatory grime
The Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act, introduced today by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), is a key step …
Blog
Trump executive order puts independent agencies on a leash
President Trump’s new executive order, “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” marks a major shift in regulatory oversight by bringing independent agencies…
Search Posts
Blog
Farm Bill becomes a partisan pork party
Today, the House passed the 2007 Farm Bill — with a vote of 231 – 191, along partisan lines. [Corrected] The fly in the…
Blog
FDA Regulation: Harmful to Smokers’ Health?
Congress is on the verge of passing a bill that would subject tobacco products to FDA regulation. The FDA regulation bill would make it…
Blog
Sugar amendment offered during Farm Bill debate
During debate on the House floor on the Farm Bill this morning, sugar was on the agenda in the form of an amendment…
Blog
Farm Bill debate starts by focusing on tax increases on businesses
House floor debate on the 2007 Farm Bill — H.R. 2419 — began at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, with a contentious beginning focusing on a…
Blog
“He Only Saved a Billion People”
Newsweek has a story on Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, whose advances in biotechnology saved a billion people from starvation in…
Blog
Update on 2007 Farm Bill — Administration issues critique — and warning
On the eve of House consideration of the 2007 Farm Bill, the Bush Administration has just sent a statement from the Office of Management…
Blog
Farm bill scheduled for House tomorrow — Bush will veto, says Ag Secretary
Today Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns said that the President may veto the 2007 Farm Bill, scheduled for full House consideration tomorrow, because it…
Blog
Nonagenarians in the news
Nonagenarians — people in their nineties — are making news this month. Last week Norman Borlaug received the Congressional Gold Medal for his lifetime…
Blog
More on subsidies for dead farmers — in the GAO’s words
Here’s a copy of the Government Accountability Office’s report on large farm subsidy payments made to dead farmers, which was released today at a…
Blog
The downside of bipartisanship — 2007 Farm Bill
At an hour-and-a-half press conference this morning, House Agriculture Committee members, perhaps sensitive to revelations that dead farmers have been receiving huge farm subsidies,…
Blog
Hands off VOIP
Today's New York Times carries a story about the sudden failure and shutdown of my former home telephone company, SunRocket. Although it obviously…
Blog
Anti-AIDS Spending Backfires
A U.N. effort to reduce the spread of AIDS to children by encouraging HIV-positive mothers to use formula rather than breast feeding has backfired…
Blog
Offset Your Lunch?
The next time you grab a burger for lunch, you’re part of the global warming problem. That, at least, is the upshot of a…
Blog
FDA Authority: Less Is More
Our good friend (and adjunct fellow) Henry Miller of the Hoover Institute responds in the pages of Regulation to charges that the FDA…
Blog
Just Don’t Drink Water?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) doesn’t want you to drink bottled water because it’s a waste of resources. Tap water is just as good they…
Blog
Farm bill — Ag Committee gives strong support to energy title
Today at the Agriculture Committee debate on the 2007 Farm Bill (see the live streaming video here), a significant portion of the debate focused…
Blog
A Man for All Seasons, Norman Borlaug
Yesterday Norman Borlaug received the Congressional Gold Medal, America's highest civilian award. This humble and unpretentious microbiologist and plant breeder is credited with saving over…
Blog
Worthy Pleasure Seekers of the World Unite
Today the Senate Finance Committee is considering the “Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2007,” which, according to James Thorner of…
Blog
How sweet it is — for sugar producers
As the House Agriculture Committee begins debate on the 2007 Farm Bill today, eight public interest groups sent a letter to committee members…
Blog
Government Wisdom
The House Agriculture Committee’s homepage features a message from the chairman that includes this line: Every American who eats should recognize the importance of…
Blog
Syndicated Vindication
Another CEI milestone – we’ve made it into the popular syndicated newspaper column The Straight Dope (the column has published since 1973 under the…
News Release
XM-Sirius Merger Should Go Forward
Washington, D.C., July 9, 2007—The proposed merger of satellite radio companies XM and Sirius should be cleared by the Federal Communications Commission, according to…
Comment
Comments submitted to the Federal Communications Commission in the matter of XM Satellite Radio Holdings and Sirius Satellite Ra
Comments of the Competitive Enterprise Institute Contents…
Blog
I Think I Hear Lee Greenwood in the Background
In the spirit of Independence Day Eve, we should all read Peter Hartlaub’s column in today’s San Francisco Chronicle, and admire its praise of…
Blog
Khosting on Fumes
Our old friend Vinod Khosla is back in the news, this time with something to show for his efforts: the world’s first commercial-scale…
Blog
Tune into the Space Angels Network
Kerry Howley is covering the latest developments in private exploration in space exploration today over at Hit & Run. Also, the July/August ’07 issue…
Blog
The Hidden Costs of CAFE standards
Charles Krauthammer has an interesting column today on the perils and hidden costs of higher CAFE standards, which would order automakers to increase the…
Blog
Grindhouse Grinds Down Crime
It’s received wisdom that violent movies encourage violence and that if only we were like our enlightened European cousins and restricted violence in movie theaters,…
Blog
Every Day is Christmas When You’re an Ethanol Producer
Our good friend Tim Carney has an excellent op-ed today in the Examiner on who’s getting screwed and who’s getting rich off of the energy…
Blog
A Plea for the Victims of Malaria
Today on CEI’s Rachelwaswrong.org blog, Barun Mitra of the Liberty Institute (New Delhi, India) makes a plea for greater awareness about malaria’s victims…
Blog
Radio Frequency Your Way to Good Health
AFP reports on a new study by the American Medical Association recommending the implantation of RFID tags to carry medical information in case of…
Blog
Shining a Spotlight on Anti-DDT Activists
A story in today’s Mail and Guardian, an online African newspaper, highlights First Lady Laura Bush’s trip to Africa, where she is “shining a…
Blog
Tires from China
Today’s news contains word that The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is calling for the recall of 450,000 Chinese tires that apparently come apart…
Blog
A couple of bucks stop here
A new survey from the strange combination of Resources for the Future, New Scientist, and Stanford University has some interesting findings not just on…
Blog
Cell Phones and Driving
Interesting new study from James E. Prieger of Pepperdine University and Bob Hahn at the AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies, looking at the…
Blog
Reasonable Energy Policy Blown Away in House
The Industrial Wind Action Group just sent along a press release on the emerging monster of a House energy bill and a recent change…
Blog
Social Workers Seize Children to Receive Adoption Bonuses
In England, as in the United States, local governments receive cash incentives from the national government for adopting out children. In England, this has led…
Blog
On Thoroughbreds
Iain, Interesting points. I’m no expert on horse racing but my understanding is that the the races in the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred…
Blog
Mea Culpa (Sorta) on Credit Scoring
No sooner did I post my thoughts about the Supreme Court decision on credit scoring than I got an e-mail from an American Insurance…
Blog
Green State of Denial
John Tierney’s excellent article on Rachel Carson’s legacy published in yesterday’s New York Times is under attack on the comments section of Tierney’s blog. The responses…
Blog
A Two-Pronged Triumph for Science
Iain – Thanks for noting the triumph of unreason in the EU, where they’re banning barometers because of the presence of that ole…
Blog
Improvement of the Breed?
Of course, Greg, it’s worth noting that the organizations you refer to appear to be largely falling down in their efforts to improve their…
Blog
Can You Clone that Thoroughbred?
USA Today has an interesting article this morning about the position of various purebred animal promotion associations (think American Kennel Club) on animal…
Blog
Conservatarian Thoughts on the FCC
Our friend (and former Open Market editor) Peter Suderman makes an excellent free market point at The Corner today about broadcast obscenity and…
Blog
NYT on Carson
Today, columnist John Tierney takes on the legacy of Rachel Carson in the New York Times Science section, offering a critique of Carson’s alarmism and…
Blog
Greens Attack Rather than Debate
Environmental activists from Environmental Defense, the Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA), and the Silent Spring Institute refuse to debate me (and probably anyone…
Blog
Rachel wrong on NRO and CBS
Iain’s National Review Online piece on Rachel Carson’s other legacy — alarmism as a political tactic — was also picked up by CBS…
Blog
At the Mercy of Regulators
After a seven-year policy battle, Europe’s new chemical law takes effect today. The law is known as REACH—the acronym for the bureaucratic name Registration, Evaluation…
Blog
Tensions within the FDA — Type I, Type II debate
An internecine struggle apparently exists within the FDA, according to an article in the New York Times. Those tensions between drug approval officials and…
Blog
Partial Nudity Delays Halo 2 for Vista
Halo 2 for Vista was found to have a hidden part of the code containing a character which moons the player. Much like GTA‘s hidden…
Blog
Department of Pre-Regulation
One of the highlights of our big annual dinner last week was our faux public service announcement from a future where nanny-state regulators have…
Blog
Coburn’s House friends also said no to Rachel
Angela, nice post and op-ed. But I’ve got some good news for you. Coburn isn’t all alone in his crusade to stop Congress…
Blog
Like Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead, Rachel Carson is still wrong
CEI’s Angela Logomasini gives kudos to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Olka.) for his stand against honoring the 100th birthday of environmentalist icon Rachel Carson. Here’s…
Blog
Today is Rachel Carson’s 100th birthday
And to observe the occasion, CEI's Jeremy Lott and Erin Wildermuth provide a reality check on her legacy in today's Baltimore Sun: In 1948,…
Blog
Millions Dead
Millions dead and that’s still not enough for environmental activists to change their colors. Last September, Dr. Arata Kochi, Director of the World Health Organization’s…
Blog
Coburn Right — Rachel Wrong
Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) stands largely alone in efforts to stop congressional initiatives to honor the environmental movement’s icon the late Rachel Carson, whose…
Blog
“Scent profiling” in Germany
Germany is collecting “scent samples” of agitators in the runup to the G8 summit to be held in Heiligendamm. Their security people are worried…
Blog
Long Live Plastics
The London Museum is planning a special exhibit to mark the centennial of a material that was long denigrated–plastics. It will cover the massive importance…
Blog
And a good life it’s been
Featured today in Fark.com under the heading of “Hero” is a story to give Michael Jacobson nightmares, headlined “Bad habits key to…
Blog
Rachel Was Wrong
Today we launch our campaign urging people to rethink the legacy of environmentalist icon Rachel Carson, with the site www.RachelWasWrong.com. Today she’s mostly remembered…
Blog
A Colossal Tragedy
A story on today’s front page of the Washington Post highlights the life of Rachel Carson. While largely praising Carson, the author does note…
Blog
Trans Fats Banned
Montgomery County, Maryland, has just banned the use of trans fats in food preparation. Trans fats have been criticized on health grounds, but they…
Blog
Death By Regulation on Web Video
The Hill’s Congress Blog features Sam on video today, responding to moves on Capitol Hill (and this week’s announcement from the White House)…
Blog
Market Signal
It is a tenet of free market environmentalism that market signals provide information about the environment and its value. Therefore, when people stop buying beachfront…
Blog
CAFE klatsch
President Bush is set to address the nation this afternoon on plans to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, reports the Greenwire news service.
Blog
Bureaucrash’s Blaze of Glory
When it rains anti-anti-smoking indignation, it pours. In addition to Brooke’s press statement, Jason reminds me that Bureaucrash was hot on this MPAA/smoking tip…
Blog
These Foolish Things Remind Me of the MPAA
As Eli informed us this morning, the MPAA has caved into Big (anti-)Tobacco and decided to rate movies that include smoking by adults more…
Blog
Butt Out!
The Washington Post reports that the The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) will now give higher, more restrictive ratings to films that “that…
News Release
Statement on the MPAA and Smoking in Films
The MPAA’s decision to kowtow to the demands of professional anti-smoking advocates won’t do anything to discourage kids from smoking; the Motion Picture Association…
Blog
Cable News Grudge Match: Sam vs. Phil on CNBC
In case you missed him earlier today, here’s our very own Sam Kazman debating Phil Clapp of the National Environmental Trust on federal…
Blog
Even a Caveman…
A Canadian news site notes that activists have recently formed a new “lobby” group called “Prevent Cancer Now.” They want to alert the world…
Blog
Another Victim of the Nanny State
In the spirit of Friday afternoon, allow me to direct your attention to the sad demise of Sudan’s only married goat. Her name was…
Blog
KFC Lawsuit Thrown Out
A lawsuit against KFC for using trans fats in its fried chicken has been thrown out. In an appropriately sarcastic ruling, federal district…
Blog
Speed Limits. . . Don’t Need ‘Em
Some visitors coming to my home this morning complained of very slow traffic on the beltway at 10:00 a.m. Serious traffic this late in the…
Blog
From the Mouths of Babes: A Poetic Approach to Recycling
Yesterday's "How Did You Celebrate Earth Day?" post generated an unexpected response from Nishant Magar of the American Chemical Society. Apparently our friends at…
Blog
Regulated to Death
The New York Times has an interesting story on how federal privacy and disability-rights regulations may have helped pave the way for the Virginia…
Blog
Re: Guns in Virginia
Following up on Eli’s post below, the blog Classically Liberal (linked to from Freedom News Daily) notes that not only is…
News Release
FCC Should Approve the XM-Sirius Satellite Radio Merger
Contact: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., April 17, 2007—Today, as the…
Blog
More from Monbiot today
The Guardian columnist George Monbiot today has yet another article attacking global warming deniers — to wit: “There is climate change censorship – and…
Blog
Golf Carts and Safety
A front page article in today’s New York Times comments on the rise of electric carts around the country. Particularly in retirement communities, they’ve…
Blog
Adapting to the IPCC
The IPCC’s second summary report of the year is out. Working Group II’s report on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability predicts a world…
Blog
Bailey on “Consensus”
Another former Brookes Fellow, Ron Bailey, writes in Reason today on green activists’ speaking out of both sides of their mouth when they say…
Blog
YouTube on fire with “Cigarette” song
These days even expressing ambiguity about cigarettes can put you in danger of the anti-smoking thought police. Conversing about the pleasure of smoking or the…
Blog
Climate Alarmism for Fun and Profit
Via Roger Pielke Jr, we have the unedifying spectacle of at least one leading IPCC scientist engaged in selling alarmist predictions of what…
Blog
Mitigating Factors
Roger Pielke Jr has posted a letter to his Prometheus website that he wrote in response to an op/ed by CEI Adjunct Fellow…
Blog
The poor are always with us (and enviros mean to keep it that way)
In Scotland and Australia, two places as far apart on the globe as you can get, people are realizing that rationing carbon is a socially…
Blog
Death by Regulation 2.0
A firefighter in the UK is facing suspension for breaking fire service regulations. His breach? Saving a drowning woman’s life: The brigade’s rules state: “Personnel…
Blog
Modern Prometheus
Norman Borlaug, the Nobel Peace Prize winning agronomist, will turn 93 on Sunday, March 25, 2007. It’s a birthday well worth celebrating. His life’s…
Blog
AP on the Nanny State
The AP has a very good article on the growth of the Nanny State. Best fact I didn’t know: two states have banned smoking…
Blog
Yes, But. . .
Fran, I knew about most of the cases you cite when I wrote the first post. None of those new to me are surprising and…
Blog
I don’t love Consumer Reports
Eli — I’ve enjoyed your postings on a range of topics. But on your most recent one, I’m going to take you on. You…
Blog
They call this privatization?
I argued in my Issue Analysis on the mistakes made during the privatization of Britain’s railroads that it was no longer accurate to call…
Blog
A Typical Government Response
Following a tragic bus accident over the weekend, Georgia has announced it will rework several highway exits to make them “safer.” The new measures, the…
Op-Eds
Land of the Fake Free
Item (a): Officials in Prince George’s County, Maryland, have proposed cracking down on truancy by strapping ankle bracelets on…
Op-Eds
What’s up with Nation’s 10 Worst Attorneys General?
WASHINGTON - In recent years, state attorneys general have become increasingly powerful. Using lawsuits as a weapon, they have transferred billions of dollars from businesses…
Blog
Where’s The Precautionary Principle When We Need It?
Today’s Wall Street Journal (link for subscribers) has a short piece in the B section noting how a new Bush Administration…
Op-Eds
Can Congress Tell a Virtual World from the Real One?
Some say online virtual reality operations like “Second Life” have attained the stage of evolution that blogging and the Internet itself occupied several years…
News Release
How Will Congress Respond to the State of the Union?
Contact: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273…
Blog
FDA Animal Cloning Decision Comes Years Too Late
In an invited post on The Hill’s Congress Blog yesterday, I argued that the…
News Release
District Smoking Ban Threatens Economic Liberty
Contact: Christine Hall, (202) 331-2258 Washington, D.C., January 2, 2007 – The District of Columbia today became the newest city in…
